Looking well down the road, at least 10 to 15 seconds of travel ahead, lets you spot trouble early and leaves time to slow, change position or plan an escape. Staring just in front of the motorcycle or refusing to adjust leaves you with no time to react.
The horn is a tool for getting attention, not just an emergency device. A quick tap is useful any time a driver or pedestrian may not have noticed you, such as someone who could drift or step into your path.
When glare washes out your signal lights, hand signals give other drivers a clear, easy-to-see message about your plans. A horn can draw attention, but it cannot tell anyone which way you mean to turn.
Regular glances at your mirrors keep you aware of what is behind you, which matters whenever you slow, stop or change position. Staring into them, however, would take your eyes off the road ahead for too long.
Bright, high-contrast colors such as yellow, orange, red and green stand out against traffic and scenery, so other drivers notice a rider sooner. Dark or dull clothing tends to blend into the background, especially in poor light.
Hazards show up most often where traffic and people mix, such as at intersections, schools, and shopping districts. Always knowing where you could go if your path is suddenly blocked lets you react the moment trouble appears.
Every mirror has a limited field of view, so some areas beside and behind a motorcycle never show up in it, exactly as with a car. A head check before a lane change covers what the mirrors miss.
Mirrors leave gaps to your side and rear where another vehicle can sit unseen. A quick head check into the lane you plan to enter confirms that it is really clear.
A few quick taps on the brake lever or pedal make the brake light blink and catch the attention of drivers behind you. Do this before you slow down somewhere they would not anticipate, such as mid-block or at an alley, and also before slowing when someone is tailgating you.
A headlight that stays on day and night makes a motorcycle much easier to pick out in traffic, especially from the front. Weaving only makes your path harder to predict, and eye contact does not mean a driver has really noticed you.
Motorcycle mirrors, like those on a car, leave zones beside and behind you that they cannot show. Turn your head for a direct look before you move into another lane.
No mirror covers every area around a motorcycle, so some zones always stay hidden. Make a quick head check toward those zones part of every lane change or merge.
Clothing with reflective material, ideally in a bright color, helps other drivers pick you out from traffic and the background, and it keeps working as the light fades. Dark clothing blends in, and short sleeves leave the arms unprotected.
Reflective gear is worth wearing around the clock. After dark it bounces headlight beams back toward drivers, and in daylight its bright surface still makes you easier to notice from a distance.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
